Sunday Scenes, 3.23.14

Scenes from my Sunday:

Sunday morning was spent at the new place, spiffing up the front porch.

I've never, ever had a beige front door (really not my style), so I thought this cute little arrangement would add some color.  This came from the the Wooden Door, a great little shop in Wentzville.

And a Martha Stewart welcome mat from good ol' Home Depot.

Home again for an afternoon of packing boxes and working on tests for school this week. I will really miss this scene- deer in my front yard to greet me as I pull up to the house. It's really pretty cool.

Packing boxes is already getting old and I really haven't even made a dent in it yet!

And little Olive is a bit out of sorts. Not only does she sense something is going on, but her bangs are way too long :)

 Marty McFly is just too cool to be stressed. After two months spent hiding under a chair when Roxy (our trial dog) was here, moving, in Little Man's words, "ain't no big thang".

But it is a big "thang" to me. So I'm keeping some of my favorite things in place until the very last minute. Like this little vignette of my favorite people in the world. And my cute little bunny couple that M. couldn't resist buying for me last week :)

Not much making going on around here, due to the move. But things are in the works, as soon as we get settled. Until then, I hope you don't mind my moving (as in "motion", not "emotion"!) stories.

Have a great week!  Juli

Family Friday- M. 3.21.14

A couple of my favorite photos of M.- before and after tractor pics!

This Family Friday is dedicated to my husband, M.- my strongest supporter, cheerleader and source of encouragement. He is the one I run ideas by for my projects, paintings and posts for this blog (although he doesn't know about this one!). He is the calm in this stormy head of mine.  He is the one who made me realize that independence (yes, even if you're married) is a good thing. He believes in me more than I believe in myself. And for all of these things, I will be forever grateful.

But, I'm not gonna lie, many times along our sometimes rocky road over the last 10 years I find myself remembering a quote from the movie "Indecent Proposal", when Demi Moore tells Robert Redford, "From where we started, we've got nowhere to go". Yes, our beginning wasn't your typical beginning. Definitely not ideal. And when the road is rocky, I have sometimes thought, "There is nowhere to go". But when the road is smooth, I remember why we're here in this life together.

One of our two wedding pictures. Yes, two!

From the very beginning we were aware of our many shared interests- our love for and interest in art, wine, good food and good movies and our views on some very fundamental issues like religion and education. We always have something to talk about. The conversations may become heated debates sometimes, but, hey, we're having a conversation. In my book,  that is huge!

I'm sure when people see us together, though, they wonder what actually did bring us together. We are probably more opposite than any two people could be. On the surface, that is. He's 62. I'm 48. He's quiet and even tempered. I am not so quiet and have a very short temper. He thinks before he speaks. I speak before I think. He's very secure and outspoken about his opinions. I'm always afraid of offending someone with mine.  He usually looks grumpy, when he's really "smiling on the inside". I usually have a smile on my face, even though much of the time there is a cloud over my head. I really could go on and on about our differences! But, I won't :)

I think some of our differences, though, are really what makes us appreciate each other. I think I've always needed a no-nonsense, calm "presence" in my life. These last two years (since the death of Ruben J) have been proof of that. M. is my calm presence. He really could not be or have been more understanding about my struggle.

And I think he needed a "talker" in his life. (I'm not sure if he agrees with me on this one!) He tends to bottle things up when something is bothering him. I have to get things out in the open. Explain everything. Ask a ton of questions. So, when he starts to shut down, I get completely vocal. Oh, my, do I get vocal! haha! But, I've noticed that he doesn't just shut down like he used to. And that is a good thing.

So, yeah, the road has not been completely smooth. But, really, I think the bumps are what ultimately make us realize that, yes, we do have somewhere to go.


Have a great weekend. I'll be back here on Sunday :)   Juli

Family Friday and Sunday Scenes combo, 3.16.14

Family Friday and Sunday Scenes combo this week! I honestly just did not have any down time yesterday to sit down and type anything out. Very busy day trying to clean up the new place for Little Man and his friends, trying to shove a too-large icebox (yes, I call it an icebox, not a refrigerator- blame my parents!) into a too-small space (It didn't work, by the way), buying groceries and birthday gifts and then attending a birthday party. Days and weekends that are too busy really stress me out, so today was a little more of a "down" day. I'm glad :)
Anywho, this morning, on Pinterest, I found so many cool poems about ancestors and family. I thought that I'd work that in with my Family Friday theme and introduce you to some of my ancestors. (Well, the ones that had an impact on me. And the ones I had pictures of!)

So, here are the quotes that inspired me this morning:

Good, huh?!

I've already introduced you to my great grandma- Pearl Tabers. I was lucky enough to know her for 16 years of my life. If I could spend a day with any of my ancestors, she would be the one. Even though I have many memories of her, I didn't really know her. I would love to ask her questions about her life, her interests, her family, etc.  My great grandpa, Daniel Tabers(who is holding my brother) is someone I never had the chance to meet. I don't know much about him, but his hands are a dead giveaway that he was one hard worker.

The woman sitting next to my dad in this picture is my great grandma, Ethel Hampton. I only remember meeting her once and she scared the crap out of me. She was extremely thin (look at that arm!) and had really dark circles around her eyes. I'm sure she was a very sweet lady, but I never got close enough to find out. Ironically, I have a suspicion that my stomach issues come from this side of the family, as I've heard that she would only eat toast and cream of wheat! Oh, my! (By the way, this is the only picture I have of her, that's why you only get half of a face.)

These two were my favorite. My Grandpa and Grandma Hampton. Ted and Eva. Some of my best memories are of times spent with them-vacations to Colorado, watching scary movies and staying up late when my brother, sister and I would spend the night or weekend with them, Christmas Eve at their house every year, helping my grandma clean out her junk drawer and getting to keep some of the cast-off items (strange, I know!), getting to eat canned biscuits (instead of the homemade ones my mom made), walking to the market behind their house to buy candy necklaces and Bub's Daddy gum.  I could go on and on. They were the best.

And this guy, my great grandpa, Luther Hampton. I've heard many stories about him (some not so good, so we won't go into all of that!), but what draws me to his picture so many times is that I see my face in his. The nose. The mouth. It's really kind of creepy and kind of cool at the same time.

And my dad's Uncle Woodrow (Hill). If I ever met him, I don't remember it. I just know that he had a huge impact on my dad and I believe he is the one who instilled in my dad his love of horses. I have only heard good things about him and I wish I had some memories of him. And I know my dad would have loved to introduce my boys to him. And my girl :)

So, there you have a few of my ancestors. Some remembered fondly, some not so fondly, others not at all, but they are still all a part of who I am. Pretty cool. It makes me want to study genealogy (in my spare time!).

So, as for Sunday Scenes, these pictures pretty much sum it up:

The first piece (and the only piece, as of now) of furniture in our new place- my grandpas "pleather" chair. Believe or not, it's really comfortable. And in perfect condition. I'm thinking this will become my new favorite spot. So shiny, isn't it?! haha

And hours of this.....GRADING. All done, though. Now I just have to plug the numbers into our wonderful Lumen system. I hate numbers and I'm not naturally organized. So grading, tracking grades, entering grades is not easy for me. It's definitely the one part of my job that I have to say I hate. But, it's the only one, so that's good!

Have a great week!  Juli

Sunday Scenes- 3.9.14

Today was the first spring-like, sunny day that I can remember in a very long while. It was so nice to get out of the house and go somewhere besides work or to the townhouse to paint. It was, literally, a breath of fresh air! So, here are my Sunday Scenes with a few scenes from earlier in the week thrown in:

Carpet installed-yay!! And I finished paintings both bathrooms yesterday, so moving in can begin anytime. I'm thinking, though, Easter weekend. Lots of packing to do, still.

I received this bracelet from the owners of Green Vineyard as a 'thank you' for painting their wooden lazy susan a few weeks ago. I love it!!

For those of you who didn't see it on Facebook, I finished the song lyric pillow. Lyrics are pieced from a Three Doors Down song, "Here Without You".

And I got my new twill tape labels just in time to use it on the pillow before I list it. I highly recommend Gohobo on Etsy if you have a need for anything like this. I received my order in two days and it was exactly what I wanted.

Beautiful day in the vineyard. We met with M's family, as his sister is getting married  at the winery in August. They are in full-on planning mode. Fun! Blumenhof Vineyard and Winery

It was a bit like deja-vu for me. Six years ago, Sister and S.W. were married there. It made for some beautiful pictures, as you can see! (Wedding photos by Trotter Photography)

Even though it was early May and the vines were practically bare, the photos were great.

And the patio was transformed that night with tents, beautiful lights, music, friends and family.

But, today, the same space was just soaking in the much needed sunshine :)

And seeing the bicycles parked in the lot really is a sure sign of spring! Yes!!

 Have a great week!  Juli

Family Friday- Ruben J, 3.7.14

Well, this has been one melancholy Friday. Not sure why. I guess it's just one of those days. So, please, excuse the blogging therapy session that is about to take place.

I'm dedicating this Family Friday to the person with whom I made a family. The family that is and will always be the light of my life and the center of my world.

Ruben J and I were a couple for 23 years, parents together for 20 years and parents apart for 7 years. Then, out of the blue, one Monday afternoon, two days after his 51st birthday, he was gone. What the hell?! That is not the way it was supposed to end.  Even though we had been apart for 7 years when he died, we had a connection that went back to the day, when I was 14 and he was 19, when we met at the Fireman's Ballpark in Wentzville. (I know my kids get sick of hearing " Right there is where I met your dad for the very first time" every time we drive by!) We still had things to say. We still had things to resolve. We were still connected by 23 years of memories together. 

But, unfortunately, we were also connected by 7 years of frequent fighting, screaming, bickering, court dates, etc. I absolutely hate that those last 7 years are even part of the big picture of "us" and our family. It's like a big, fat, ugly finger smudge on a perfect work of art. Very sad. And I have "an ocean of regret" to live with for that. (My advice to anyone going through a divorce and participating in any of the above activities- fighting, screaming, bickering-STOP IT!)

But, what's even worse is that because of a stupid, careless, random accident, Ruben J will not be here to experience our family- our three kids- having families of their own. And our family will not be able to experience those things with him. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick. My heart, literally, aches. Every. Single. Day. 

The bottom right picture is a card with my part of that last conversation- the one that we were supposed to have when we were, oh, 90 years old, or so. I put it there on October 17, 2012. And it is still there today. Through all of the rain storms, wind storms, snow storms, etc. I'm taking it as another sign. That I'm forgiven :)

But, on the way home today, I stopped by the cross- the place that marks the spot where Ruben J took his last breath. I tidied up, pulled some weeds, looked at the pictures, took some pictures. And when I got back into the car, the Fleetwood Mac song "Don't Stop" was on the radio. And the very first words I heard were, "Yesterday's gone. Don't you look back." Crazy. Things like that happen to me all the time. I'm not a religious person, by any stretch of the imagination, but I do believe in "signs", "gut feelings", etc. I took this as another sign to move on. So I'll try. Or continue to try. But, really, I think it's something I will never recover from. I know that sounds really sad. But it's the sad truth.

BUT, I will try :) And continuing to focus on making things that bring people a little happiness, even if it comes from a place of sadness, is how I'm going to try.

 Have a great Saturday and I will be back here Sunday with, I promise, a much more upbeat post.

Sunday Scenes, 3.2.14

Well, yesterday was one long painting day and everyone was there to help.

Eddie, with his makeshift paintbrush- a small trim brush duct taped to the end of an extension pole! It was the only way to reach one four foot section over the stairwell. It worked!

Peanut, assisted by Sister (aka, his Nonny) was making sure we still had 14 steps. He checked and double checked, as he is VERY good at counting :)

My mom started on the bathroom. I can't wait to get rid of this horrible orange paint! It's even uglier in person.

And Little Man had ceiling duty. He did a great job and it was his first time painting-ever :)

So, that was yesterday. I left my house at 9am and got home at 8pm. Long, long day. And that long, exhausting day led to this:

A planned, stay at home day since we were supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow. Uhmmm....it's three o'clock in the afternoon now and this is what it looks like. I would say a dusting is more like it.

 And some serious T.V. watching. I found a new BBC series called "Call the Midwife". Really good. Set in England in the 1950's. Lots of babies being born. You can't get better than that in my book!

 

 

 

So, the lack of snow is making me feel a little bit guilty about the T.V. watching. And there hasn't been any making going on, either, since my hand still feels like there is a paintbrush in it! haha! Kind of a joke, but kinda not. I'm not gonna lie, my hands are not feeling too good today. I do have this never-ending blanket that seems to be staring me in the face all day, though. So I may have to work on it a little when we watch the Oscar's tonight. Love the Oscar's! Have a great week!